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Fishways open up 100km of creeks, rivers and estuaries
Terrain NRM has built six fishways to boost fish populations in North Queensland waterways.

The construction of six fishways has removed barriers to migrating juvenile fish, opening up 100km of creek and river systems between Tully and Townsville.

Fishways are a relatively new innovation in the region and consist of a series of underwater stairs for fish, with deep pools between each one for resting.

The idea is juvenile fish can move upstream in short bursts, pausing to rest before continuing their journey.

Fish Highways

Recent survey work has shown these structures have become fish highways, with over 1000 fish recorded migrating through one of the fishways in a single day. 

‘Sixteen native species, including juvenile barramundi, empire gudgeon, rainbow fish, tarpon and long-finned eels, were recorded,’ Terrain NRM’s Deb Bass said. 

 ‘Of the 80+ species of native fish we have in the Wet Tropics region, up to half need to move between salt and freshwater habitats to complete their lifecycles. Barriers like weirs, pipes, culvert crossings and weed chokes can stop these species from thriving.’ 

The Fish Homes and Highways project began with extensive survey work in the Herbert and Murray River catchments between Crystal Creek near Paluma and Tully, where more than 3,500 potential fish barriers were identified, leading to on-ground inspections of over 300 sites. 

Fishways were built at barriers such as causeways, while in other areas, bed-level crossings replaced causeways or creek crossings were entirely removed. 

Healthier and more productive

Terrain NRM has been working with OzFish Unlimited, Catchment Solutions and Australasian Fish Passage Services on the initiative, funded by the Australian Government’s Reef Trust. 

OzFish Unlimited’s Geoff Collins said survey results showed the fishways would help both fish health and the waterways. 

 ‘We are opening up habitat that many juvenile fish haven’t been able to access, particularly in low-flow situations, for decades in some cases,’ he said. 

‘These structures enable migration for tens of thousands of fish. And the more habitat we can give fish access to, the more productive our fish stocks will be.’